Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott set to unleash latest two-year-old talent with Randwick contender Anode
Waterhouse and Bott are looking to unleash another top 2YO with Anode
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott's stacked two-year-old hand could get even stronger when promising colt Anode looks to deliver on his strong trial form at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Tulloch Lodge already has the Golden Slipper favourite in Shangri La Express and Magic Millions 2YO Classic top seed Storm Boy in their juvenile armoury.
Shangri La Express will skip the Magic Millions to focus on the autumn while Storm Boy will attempt to maintain his unbeaten record in Saturday week's Group 3 B.J McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm.
Anode can enhance his own carnival credentials when the unraced youngster makes his debut James Squire 2YO Open Handicap (1100m).
"Anode has been coming up nicely with our other two-year-olds and has been around the mark," Bott said.
"I would say he is not far off (the best of them). He has worked well with some of those other horses that have already been produced and his trial performances have been good.
"At this stage, he is certainly looking like he can put his hand up at this early stage."
Typical of the stable, Anode has looked terrific in both of his public appearances with victories in both of his trials in the lead up to his debut.2YO Anode brings home his second trial win in Heat 10 @aus_turf_club Rosehill for @GaiWaterhouse1 & Adrian Bott 🙌
The @evergreen_stud-owned colt is the second 2YO trial winner this morning by @yarramanpark's Champion Sire, I Am Invincible.
He is out of the winning Fantastic... pic.twitter.com/QsDrZAwoqq
- TTR AusNZ (@TTRAusNZ) December 5, 2023
The son of I Am Invincible is expected to face stiff competition from fellow unraced colts Amazing Eagle, Tardelli and Moonraker this weekend.
"He is bumping into what looks to be a couple of handy ones in the field," Bott said.
"There is a nice bit of depth there so it will be a good test for him.
"He has been pleasing us at home and has worked well since his trials and is a nice colt going forward."
Rachel King rides Anode ($6), who sits on the second line of betting behind Amazing Eagle ($1.55).
The colt can kick-off the card on the right note for Waterhouse and Bott, who also have stablemates Zouphoria ($2.40 fav) and Rocketeer Girl ($5.50) lining up in the Kia Ora Prague Benchmark 78 (1400m).
Zouphoria is coming off a brilliant maiden success at Randwick Kensington last time and gets in with the featherweight of 50kg after Jett Stanley's 2kg claim.The Bott-@GaiWaterhouse1 runner Zouphoria was far too good and justifies the short price with an all-the-way win! pic.twitter.com/QywYmSvP6o
- SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 1, 2023
"Zouphoria has a bit of upside," Bott said.
"It was good to see her put it together there last start.
"We are looking at a couple of options for her going forward but this looked to be a nice test for her.
"She gets in pretty light after the claim so it looks like a nice chance for her to take the next step."
Bott said the stable will consider a Magic Millions tilt with Zouphoria if the Zoustar filly can maintain her strong form.
Rocketeer Girl, who was scratched from Friday night's Canterbury meeting due to a wide draw, is looking to bounce back to her best in the same race after finding unsuitable conditions last start at Kembla Grange.
"Rocketeer Girl just struggled not the heavy track last start at Kembla," Bott said.
"She was good there the start before and then she was on the back-up on the heavy track.
"She never seemed to travel like we know she can. I thought she was in trouble there for a little bit and that's the way it panned out,
"Back on a better track, I am happy to give her a chance again."
Dajraan is the stable's final runner in the Cactus Imaging Handicap (1600m) with Tim Clark booked to steer.
The Frankel entire didn't beat a runner home first up in The Hunter before producing an improved showing second up when midfield in the Group 3 Festival Stakes (1500m).
Bott believes Dajraan, a $26 outsider, is getting closer to his peak.
"Dajraan is hopeful close to peak fitness now and has just taken a couple of runs to get there albeit in tougher grade," Bott said.
"He was completely run off his feet there first up and second up I thought he did a great job and travelled better.
"He worked into it better and just peaked on his run so I am hoping to see a further improved performance there on Saturday."
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